Nicaraguans are voting on Sunday to elect a new president, vice-president and National Assembly.

Five voters told BBCMundo.com how they will vote and how important this election is for the future of Nicaragua.

CLARA GRUN, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

I want the elections to be fair, democratic and effective, and I hope the results reflect the people's choice.

We are going through a terrible crisis here right now. There is no electricity, no water, and no gas.

Politicians make promises, but the results are very different.

I am going to exercise my right and my obligation to vote but I'm confused, because they all look pretty much the same.

I have dreams I want to achieve. I want to be able to work in music and earn enough so that my children don't grow up being constantly told, as I was, that music doesn't get you anywhere and that there is no cultural scene in Nicaragua.

ANIELCA MEDINA, 18, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

I wasn't born when the revolution [in 1979, when Sandinista guerrilla forces ousted the Somoza dynasty from power] took place. However, I do know that it was disastrous.

I don't think there is anything left of the Sandinistas dream now.

I don't know who I am going to vote for, or if I'm going to vote at all, because I still don't have my ID card.

However, these elections are very important. There are lots of candidates, but I'm not sure which ones will protect our interests or help us fulfil our dreams.

I want drugs to disappear, I want young people to get out of gangs, and I want the violence to stop. These are the most important issues for me.

JOSE ABEN, 32, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

I hope that the newly-elected president can be open and honest and helps the many poor people of this country.

We need a president that not only puts money in his own pocket, but in the pockets of all Nicaraguans.

I hope [ex-Sandinista leader and former president] Daniel Ortega doesn't return to power, because we don't want more communism.

We want the freedom to speak out and go out and express ourselves.

JOSE VARGAS, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

I think these elections are important because they will define our country's future.

Since I was born, we've had Daniel Ortega, Violeta Chamorro, Arnoldo Aleman and Enrique Bolanos as our presidents.

But these presidents haven't done very well. There hasn't been any progress.

I want a president that worries about the future of our young people.

Here, you graduate from university and you can't find any work. There's a lack of jobs for educated people.

At this moment, I'm thinking of voting for [conservative candidate] Eduardo Montealegre Rivas.

RAUL JOSE GUTIERREZ AMADOR, 43, MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

I remember [former military ruler] Anastasio Somoza's repression - the murders and the violation of rights.

That is difficult to forget.

The people of Nicaragua are very unhappy right now. Since the 1990s, we have seen only more poverty.

Rich people have become richer, and poor people have less opportunities and basic services available to them.

I will vote for Daniel Ortega, as his policies favour the poorest people - who are the majority of people right now.